It was near Christmas during my first term teaching at a new school. I loved my small special class more than any group I had taught in the past. They were hungry for knowledge and I was enjoying teaching.

? Other teachers had told me that our children were from poor families and not to expect any child to bring a Christmas gift. In fact, I wasn’t expecting any gifts.

? Imagine my surprise when every child brought me a gift on the day before our holiday break. First, I got a much-loved toy monkey from a shy girl. I was told, “He is my favorite, but I love you and I want him to be with you, Miss Taylor.” How thrilled I was!

? Next came a new set of Christmas tree lights that was “missing” from a mother’s cupboard(碗橱).

? Finally, I came to one little boy’s gift which I had never received. It was an old, dirty and broken Christmas storybook. Just when I wanted to show my happiness, I was interrupted(打断) by the giver, “And see, it is new! It still has the price tag（标签）.”

?? When other children laughed at him, I stopped them and said, “Oh, books are good in that way. The story is always new if you have not read it before. Now, Let’s read one together.” Everyone listened quietly as I read the most wonderful Christmas story of my life.

?? I still keep those Christmas gifts. They always remind me of my lovely kids.

1.Miss Taylor loved her small special class so much because______________.

A. this was her first term teaching at a new school

B. these little kids were from rich families

C. the students studied very hard and she enjoyed teaching them

D. she didn’t get any Christmas gifts

2. ____________ brought Miss Taylor a Christmas gift.

A. Every child????????????? B. Most of the children????????????? ? C. Only three children????????????? ? D. No one

3.Miss Taylor felt __________ when she got the gifts from the children.

A. sad????????????? ????????????? ????????????? B. scared????????????? ????????????? ????????????? ????????????? ????????????? C. thrilled????????????? ? ????????????? ????????????? ????????????? D. tired

4.Many gifts were mentioned (被提及) in the article except____________.

A. a toy monkey?????????? ????????????? B. an old storybook?????????????

C. a set of Christmas tree lights????????????? D. a Christmas card

　It was near Christmas during my first term teaching at a new school. I loved my small special class more than any group I had taught in the past. They were hungry for knowledge and I was enjoying teaching.

Other teachers had told me that our children were from poor families and not to expect any child to bring a Christmas gift. In fact, I wasn’t expecting any gifts.

Imagine my surprise when every child brought me a gift on the day before our holiday break. First, I got a much-loved toy monkey from a shy girl. I was told, “He is my favorite, but I love you and I want him to be with you, Miss Taylor.” How thrilled I was!

Next came a new set of Christmas tree lights that was “missing” from a mother’s cupboard(碗橱).

Finally, I came to one little boy’s gift which I had never received. It was an old, dirty and broken Christmas storybook. Just when I wanted to show my happiness, I was interrupted(打断) by the giver, “And see, it is new! It still has the price tag.”

　 When other children laughed at him, I stopped them and said, “Oh, books are good in that way. The story is always news if you have not read it before. Now, Let’s read one together.” Everyone listened quietly as I read the most wonderful Christmas story of my life.

　 I still keep those Christmas gifts. They always remind me of my lovely kids.

54. Miss Taylor loved her small special class so much because______________.

　 A. this was her first term teaching at a new school

　 B. these little kids were from rich families

　 C. the students studied very hard and she enjoyed teaching them

　 D. she didn’t get any Christmas gifts

55. ____________ brought Miss Taylor a Christmas gift.

　 A. Every child B. Most of the children C. Only three children D. No one

56. Miss Taylor felt __________ when she got the gifts from the children.

　 A. sad　　　　　　　　　　 B. scared　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. thrilled　　　 　　　　　　　　 D. tired

57. Many gifts were mentioned (被提及) in the article except____________.

　 A. a toy monkey B. an old storybook　　　　　　　　　　

C. a set of Christmas tree lights　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. a Christmas card

Dad never tried to hug or kiss me when I was a child. And of course, he never said "I love you" to me, 26 . Maybe it's a Chinese cultural thing, or maybe that's the way my dad was. But whenever I felt 27 , sad or lonely, dad was always there. Dad was a man of few 28 , but I always liked to talk to him, and I could always feel a very special connection to him.

　 When I was in high school, dad retired and 29 a food stand（摊位）on the street near my school. Dad was very good at making fried noodles, and a lot of people liked his noodles. Every day when I finished school, my classmates and I would pass his food stand. But I really 30_ talking to dad in front of his food stand, 31 I did not want my classmates to know that my dad was selling noodles on the street!

　 One night, I couldn't 32 it any more and shouted, "Dad, could you stop selling your stupid noodles? I don't need a father who sells noodles on the street!" At that moment, dad was shocked. He tried to say 33 but didn't. When he 34 his head away, something happened that I had never seen and would never forget 35 the rest of my life. His eyes were filled with tears and sadness. It was the first time that I saw dad 36 . My mom later told me that dad was selling noodles to save money for my college education. I was such a fool , and even today I still feel _37 for that night.

Time really flies. I finished college and then left my home city. For the past ten years, whenever I've visited home, dad was always there meeting me and seeing me off 38 at the railway station. Whenever mom was calling me, dad would sit 39 her with a list of questions. He would ask mom to talk to me for him. That's the way dad is, and that's 40 dad shows his love to me.

Dad is still quiet, but I still feel a connection. —"a silent father's love."